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Luigi Mangione appeared in court for the first time since last year on Friday.
Mangione, 26, attended the hearing at a Manhattan court in connection with the state charges he is facing in New York. The charges include murder in the first degree in the furtherance of terrorism, murder in the second degree and several weapons charges.
Mangione’s hair appeared to be longer and he was more clean-shaven than his last court appearance.
He wore a dark green knitted sweater and did not smile as he walked to the defense table. He will remain handcuffed during the proceeding unless he has to sign something.
Curtis Means/Pool Photo via AP and Photo by TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP via Getty Images
Why It Matters
Mangione is accused of fatally shooting UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson outside a Hilton hotel in Manhattan on December 4, 2024.
Thompson was in the city for an annual investors’ meeting. The incident took place blocks from tourist attractions such as Radio City Music Hall and Rockefeller Plaza.
Mangione was apprehended in Altoona, Pennsylvania, following a five-day manhunt.
At the federal level, he is charged with two counts of stalking, one count of murder through use of a firearm and a firearms offense. He is also facing state charges in Pennsylvania.
What To Know
The last time Mangione appeared in court was on December 23, 2024, for his arraignment on New York state charges.
Mangione is being held at the Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC) in Brooklyn. He faces a maximum sentence of life in prison without parole if convicted of the state charges.
Mangione is also eligible for the death penalty if he is convicted of murder in his federal case.
He has gained support in some corners of the internet, including a fundraiser for his legal defense that has raised over $515,000.
Karen Friedman Agnifilo, an attorney for Mangione, previously told Newsweek that her client will use the money to fight his cases in multiple jurisdictions.
“Luigi is aware of the fund and very much appreciates the outpouring of support. My client plans on utilizing it to fight all three of the unprecedented cases against him,” Agnifilo said in a statement.
What People Are Saying
Mangione, in a statement posted to his website: “I am overwhelmed by – and grateful for – everyone who has written me to share their stories and express their support. Powerfully, this support has transcended political, racial, and even class divisions, as mail has flooded MDC from across the country, and around the globe.”
What Happens Next
Mangione’s next court date in the Pennsylvania state case is set for February 24.
His next appearance in federal court is scheduled for March 19.
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